Spanish judge orders Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s wife to stand trial, surrender passport

A Spanish judge on Saturday ordered the wife of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to face trial on corruption-related charges and to surrender her passport, according to a report from The Washington Times. The order also sets the case into motion through the next stage of Spain’s criminal process, with the defendant required to comply with travel and custody restrictions while the matter is adjudicated.

The judge’s decision requires the prime minister’s wife to appear for a trial on allegations that she was involved in influence peddling and corruption. The ruling additionally directs her to surrender her passport, a measure typically designed to reduce the risk of flight and to ensure the defendant’s availability for hearings and court proceedings.

The case comes as the Spanish government continues operating amid heightened public scrutiny of corruption investigations involving prominent figures. A judge’s order to proceed to trial indicates that, in the court’s view, the allegations have cleared an evidentiary threshold sufficient to warrant a full criminal proceeding rather than being dismissed at an early stage.

Legal orders in Spain can include compliance measures such as passport surrender during pending litigation. Such steps affect not only the individual named by the court but also logistical planning for family members and associates, particularly if hearings are scheduled on short notice. The passport surrender requirement also imposes limitations on international travel until the court allows otherwise.

The parties’ next steps will depend on the procedures available in Spanish criminal court. A defendant subject to a passport-surrender order may seek review through applicable appeals or procedural requests, while prosecutors and the court will continue preparations for the trial, including scheduling and the presentation of evidence.

The order underscores that in Spain, high-profile political connections do not halt the operation of the criminal justice system. The timing and enforcement of travel restrictions, and whether any appeals are filed, will be key to how quickly the case proceeds and what constraints the defendant faces while it is pending.